TESTING FOR RELAXATION: MUSCLE = MOUTH
Now tighten up the muscles of your mouth. Grimace. Show your teeth, and tighten up the muscles around your mouth and the front of your neck. Tilt your chin up. Now, with your teeth still bared, open your lips as wide as you can. Hold them open, teeth clenched, as you also tighten your cheek and neck muscles. Teeth clenched, cheeks and neck tight, lips pulled open, hold these muscles tight while you count: one thousand … two thousand . .. three thousand . .. four thousand . .. five thousand … six thousand … seven thousand … eight thousand . .. nine thousand … ten thousand. Count slowly. Slowly relax your lips, jaw, cheek and neck muscles. Take in a deep breath through your nose, filling your lungs as you feel your diaphragm pulling down to open your lungs and make room for the air.
Hold the breath for a moment. Now let it go very slowly, taking at least five seconds to let it all out.
Take another breath. Fill your lungs. Feel your diaphragm pulling down to open your lungs wide. In your mind’s eye, see your diaphragm dropping down as your lungs fill.
Now repeat. Tighten the muscles of your mouth, clench your teeth and grimace. Tilt your chin up and tighten the muscles around your mouth and in the front of your neck. Hold that for a moment, then open your lips as wide as you tighten your cheek and neck muscles. Hold those muscles tight while you count, slowly: one thousand . . . two thousand .. . three thousand . . . four thousand .. . five thousand … six thousand … seven thousand . .. eight thousand .. . nine thousand . .. ten thousand. Slowly relax your jaw, lips, cheek and neck muscles. Take a deep breath in through your nose … a nice, deep breath. Feel your diaphragm pulling down to open your lungs wide. See, in your mind’s eye, your diaphragm dropping down as your lungs fill.
Hold the breath for a moment. Now let it out through your mouth very slowly, taking at least five seconds to empty your lungs.
Take another deep breath, filling up your lungs.
Hold it for a moment. Now let it out, very slowly. Take five seconds or more to blow it all out.
The muscles of your mouth and the front of your neck now feel light and relaxed.
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